Pakistan’s clerics issue fatwa to allow transgender marriage

June 28, 2016 /
Pahichan Reporter

Manrique rapida/Pakistan (Pahichan) June 28 – The little known Lahore-based clerical group Tanzeem Ittehade-i-Ummat, or Organization for the Unity of Muslims, issued the fatwa – or religious opinion – which also said that hijra should not be harassed.

The new fatwa advised that individuals cannot marry as third-gender, but those who have male attributes can marry women, and those who are physically women can marry men.

“A transman can marry a transwoman and vice versa, but intersex person – people born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies – cannot marry at all according to Islam”, stated Mufti Muhammad Imran Hanfi Qadri in a fatwa which was issued on the request of Chairman of Tanzim Ittehade Ummat Pakistan Muhammad Ziaul Haq Naqashbandi. This person can marry a transgender declared female at birth who transitions over time into a male.

It declared that robbing transgender people of their share in inheritance was unlawful and that parents who deprive their transgender children of inheritance were “inviting the wrath of God”. The clerics stressed the government to take stern action against such unfair parents.The decree also declared that funeral rituals for a transgender person would be similar as for any other Muslim man or woman.

According to him, making fun of a transgender, even by way of hooting, considering them inferior and insulting them is forbidden.

He warned all transgender people to abide by the tenets of Islam. “They are also created by Allah Almighty”. Prayers, fasting, paying “zakat” (obligatory charity) and performing Haj are obligatory on them too, he said.

There is not a uniform understanding among ordinary people about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex people. Even the people who know about variance in this community address saying female, male and transgender. They, however, do not have proper... Read more